Why can he not wait patiently? Why must he whine, and jump, and generally act like a stupid, annoying animal? SITTING OUTSIDE FOR A WHOLE MINUTE WILL NOT KILL YOU STUPID DOG. The muddy pawprints all over my door is getting very annoying, and if he scratches anything or tears up the screen he's in trouble. I don't even know how to work with him on it, because if I ignore him, he WILL scratch something up, but telling him to get off or sit reinforces the behavior because he's getting attention.

I guess I need to start from scratch and work on him being okay left alone in curtain areas. He's fine if I crate him, or put up a gate or a shut an inner door with him on the other side...but apparently outer doors aren't the same.

Did you raise him in an apartment? I found that mine, Mia especially, had to learn that it's ok to be in the yard. I feed them outside in good weather now, and we play a lot out there. It's really helped to just get her okay with relaxing out in the yard. Especially giving her things like raw meals outside where she gets preoccupied with eating/chewing.

But basically I think it's from the fact that in apartment living she was either outside with me on a leash or inside. If we were off leash outside we were 'doing something' so outdoors was never just a place to 'be'.

I have a big glass door so I can watch them from the kitchen/living room if anyone is worried.